Orlando Magic Want Dwight Howard to Sign an Extension, or Else …

The Orlando Magic’s season from hell came to an end at long last, but the Dwight Howard nightmare is far from over. The team’s CEO attempted to draw a line in the sand last night. From BHSN: “After Orlando’s season game to a close in Tuesday night’s loss to the Pacers in Game 5, Magic CEO Alex Martins sounded like there will not be a repeat of the drama the team went through for most of this season. ‘If he decides not to sign an extension, then we’re going to make decisions necessary so we don’t go through a season like we went through this year,’ Martins said. When prodded if he meant he would trade Howard if he didn’t sign a long-term deal, Martins added, ‘We’ll cross that bridge when we get there but our number one goal is to get him to sign an extension this summer.’ In the next few weeks, Magic general manager Otis Smith will also evaluate whether he wants to return to the team next season. The Orlando Sentinel first reported Smith isn’t sure he wants to return for the final year of his contract. ‘There’s nothing new about that,’ Smith said. ‘I evaluate my own situation every year. I talk things over with my family and go from there.’ Smith said he and Stan Van Gundy always face an annual review by the front office. ‘There’s nothing new about that either. We do this every year.’ Orlando’s win percentage has dropped in four straight seasons, playoffs included. Van Gundy said shortly after the season came to an end, that he would like to remain on the bench at the Amway Center.”